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Teleostomi Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

"He seemed to smile."



Heathcliff was there on the bed. He seemed to smile. I could not think him dead.
I'm wondering if there's any difference between "be smiling" and "smile" in the sentence.Emotion: whisper

I wonder, wouldn't modern English speakers say "be smiling"?
  

Top answer

I agree. This is, after all, over 150 years old. PS: ...

— Mister Micawber

  • I agree.
  • This is, after all, over 150 years old.
  • PS: ...
  • Unless his mouth actually moved!
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2 Answers
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I agree. This is, after all, over 150 years old.

PS: ... Unless his mouth actually moved!
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difference between "be smiling" and "smile" in the sentence.
smile = to make a movement of the mouth that produces a smile.
be smiling = to have the mouth in the shape of a smile.

I suspect the author used smile to mean be smiling, but one never knows what is happening in the imagination of an author. Maybe he did indeed seem (to her) to
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